The Federal Aviation Administration (FFA) is being restructured under President Trump. The point is to improve efficiency, but the restructuring has accidentally created gaps in operations. Key roles have been shuffled, causing delays in decision-making and oversight. This may explain the recent increase in plane crashes.
Critical safety checks are being missed because there are fewer people in leadership with the necessary experience and knowledge. Former FAA employees warn that the focus on streamlining processes has overshadowed the agency's primary goal—ensuring safety for passengers and crew.
Cuts to aviation regulatory oversight have left significant safety issues unchecked. Key inspections that once ensured that aircraft and pilots met rigorous standards have been delayed or skipped altogether, creating risks that can lead to accidents.
Lax oversight has also allowed more loopholes for airlines to bypass repairs or updates. Without strict compliance checks, aircraft are staying in service longer, even when mechanical components need replacing or upgrading. This weakens aviation safety as a whole.
President Trump disbanded the Aviation Security Advisory Committee in 2025 to save costs. This panel previously united experts, airlines, and unions to address safety challenges. Its removal has meant fewer proactive measures to handle evolving security threats in the aviation world.
Experts have strongly criticized this move, which many believe has left critical safety gaps. Without the committee’s recommendations and updates, the industry now struggles to adapt to emerging dangers like cyber-attacks and physical threats at airports.
Regulatory changes that keep safety standards current have been lagging in recent years. Updating technology and procedures used in aviation is slow, leaving room for outdated systems that can fail in critical moments.
Many crashes in 2025 could have been prevented with timely regulatory updates. For example, outdated air traffic control systems have frequently contributed to in-air collisions and other near-misses, despite available improvements in modern tracking technology.
Regulatory agencies like the FAA are struggling with severe staffing shortages. Many inspectors and safety officers have either retired or left due to budget cuts, leaving fewer experts to manage safety inspections and enforce rules.
Overworked staff can miss signs of trouble in planes or operations. Without enough personnel, vital safety checks are either rushed or skipped. The gaps created by these shortages are increasing risks for airlines and passengers alike.
Air traffic control towers, crucial for guiding planes safely, are increasingly short-staffed. Long hours and high-stress conditions have caused more controller burnout, leaving fewer skilled professionals available to manage heavy air traffic.
This shortage has already caused mistakes, with recent collisions and near-misses attributed to overwhelmed control tower staff. With job demand rising, efforts to fill these roles have struggled to keep up with aviation traffic needs.
Military night training operations have risen significantly in 2025, creating new hazards for commercial aviation. Increased activity in shared airspace has led to more midair close calls and even collisions due to miscommunication or lack of coordination.
The deadly collision in Washington between a passenger jet and a military helicopter highlights these risks. Experts agree that without better cooperation between civilian and military aviation, such incidents could become even more frequent.
Oversight of construction in aviation facilities, like runways and control towers, has decreased this year. Poorly maintained or rushed construction projects are leading to unsafe conditions, including structural hazards that exacerbate the risks of takeoffs and landings.
For example, delays in runway repairs and improper designs have contributed to planes overshooting or skidding during bad weather. Better oversight is necessary to ensure that airports are set up to meet growing aviation demands.
With more planes in the sky than ever before, air traffic congestion is becoming a major issue. Packed flight schedules leave less room for error, with planes sometimes flying dangerously close to each other in shared airspace.
Controllers and pilots are under constant pressure to avoid delays, which can sometimes lead to rushed decisions. This increase in congestion has raised the chances of midair collisions and other airborne safety issues.
Cuts to training grants are leaving future pilots less prepared for the challenges of modern aviation. Many aspiring pilots cannot afford the high cost of training, leading to a smaller pool of qualified individuals entering the field.
For current pilots, funding cuts mean fewer opportunities for ongoing education on new technologies and emergency protocols. These combined factors weaken the overall skill level of those operating planes, putting passengers at risk.
